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Vol. 9 No. 5 - October 22, 2008

news

Bayfest shines even without bridge

ANNA MARIA – While Bridging the Gap brought a lot of new events to the Island these past three weeks, Bayfest is an annual festival and it might serve to indicate what effect the closing of the Anna Maria Island Bridge has on the Island’s business community.

By all accounts, that effect would be small.

Bayfest 2008 drew a good crowd, according to Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce President Mary Ann Brockman. Although she would not hazard a guess as to the size of the crowd, she said if it was down from last year, it wasn’t by much. More...

Closed span no barrier to tourism

HOLMES BEACH – Locals continue to visit Anna Maria Island despite the Manatee Avenue bridge closure, according to members of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council.

"Due in no small part to the Island Sun series of events called Bridging the Gap, the bridge closure is a ‘non-event,’" said Ed Chiles, of the Chiles Group, adding that business at his three restaurants is up for October. More...

Stoplight backs up
Cortez
traffic

BRADENTON BEACH – Traffic to and from the Island on the Cortez Bridge continues at a good clip most of the time, unless there is an accident a stalled car or someone triggers the stoplight at 119th and Cortez Road. More often than not, the stoplight is the problem and members of the Island Transportation Planning Organization want the powers that be to take another look at the situation. More...

Dog
costume
contest
Saturday

Will it be Barack Obama beagle or Sarah Palin poodle or perhaps Muhammad Ali, a boxer, of course, or Madonna the mastiff?

These may be some of the characters you may encounter at the Sun’s annual dog costume contest on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the AMI Sun Plaza, 202 Palm Ave., Anna Maria, weather permitting. And don’t count out the owners, who often dress in costume to complement their pooches. More...

Condo association fined $2,283 in turtle violation

BRADENTON BEACH — A mediator has ruled that the Coquina Beach Club violated the city’s turtle protection ordinance when lights on the building caused a disorientation of hatchlings.

"The city has prevailed in the prosecution of the case," said Special Master Harold Youmans after hearing the case against the club on Oct. 16. More...

Anna Maria voters to elect two candidates

When Anna Maria voters go to the polls on Nov. 4, they will be selecting two city commissioners from among four candidates. Incumbent Jo Ann Mattick is running to retain her seat while Commissioner Duke Miller is not running. Political newcomer Mark Alonso would like to fill one of the seats and two former commissioners, are also seeking election — Bob Barlow and Chuck Webb. Candidates were invited to write an article taking their platforms directly to the voters. More...

One commission seat open in Bradenton Beach

Voters in Bradenton Beach will choose a city commissioner for the fourth ward to replace John Chappie, who will leave to become a Manatee County commissioner. The two candidates are Bill Shearon, who served on the city commission for three years before resigning to run for mayor last year against Michael Pierce, and Bob Bartlet, a political newcomer who has served on the city’s Scenic Highway committee.

Although the city is divided into four wards, residents from all the wards vote on each candidate. More...

Four fire commission candidates vie for two seats

For the first time in 10 years, there are four candidates for two seats on the West Manatee Fire Commission.

Randy Cooper and Steve Pontius are seeking Seat 5, being vacated by Commissioner Jack Emery, who is retiring, and Al Robinson is challenging incumbent Jesse Davis for Seat 1. Commissioners are volunteers and are not paid. More...

feature

BAYFEST 2008: The Island at its best

Bayfest 2008, sponsored by the Anna Maria Island Sun, was a huge success in many ways. It brought people out to enjoy the day and it signaled the unofficial start of the festival season. Those who came were treated to music and refreshments into the night, plus food, kids activities, arts and crafts, a classic auto show with an array of beautiful rides and a DJ spinning the oldies. New this year was a motorcycle show featuring colorful choppers. Bayfest was also a success because it showed how easy it is to get on and off the Island, even with one bridge closed. This is the last Bayfest for organizer Cindy Thompson, who turns the reigns over to her husband, John, while she concentrates on her new business, Thompson Preschool and Kids Club. More...

reel time

Photo catch and release, digitally

Photos of a special fish, magic light on the natural world or an outing with a friend hold the promise of years of enjoyment. Digital cameras make capturing a moment in time easy, fun and allow you to develop your vision in the digital darkroom. The best part is that you can enjoy this amazing technology no matter what your level of expertise. Most digital cameras come with software that lets you enhance the image, crop the size and share the final product in a number of ways. You can send the images via e-mail, or print them out to frame and display. There are a few basic rules that will help you capture the best possible digital image: Before you leave the dock, make sure you have fresh batteries, memory cards (digital film) and a clean lens. More...

real estate

Prefab housing has fascinating history

I don’t know why I’m so fascinated with prefab houses that are just a little bit out of the ordinary, but I am. Back in March, I wrote a column on the Sears Roebuck catalog houses that were sold between 1908 and 1940 around the country. Since then I’ve been contacted by several people and have been informed of several catalogue homes on Anna Maria. In addition, as reported in this paper, the Rosedale Cottage, Roser Chapel and many homes in Longbeach Village at the north end of Longboat Key were constructed of Sears and Roebuck block. More...

business

Inaugural run for AMI
organic produce co-op

ANNA MARIA — Fresh, attractive, tasty, clearly better than what I’ve gotten elsewhere. Those are all descriptions applied to the organic produce purchased by eight families last week during the inaugural run of the AMI organic produce co-op.

Two Anna Maria residents, Alice Newlon and Mary Shelby, both of whom are regular consumers of organic produce, thought there had to be a better way to get their fruits and vegetables. They were tired of trekking to Sarasota or into town to one of the health food stores. More...

Investment Corner By Tom Brieter

Great Depression
not likely to recur

Many people are currently fearful that our economy is about to experience another Great Depression, similar to the period from 1929 through most of the 1930s. News media outlets are quick to jump on board because nothing will attract eyeballs to the printed page or the TV screen like the specter of some really bad news. More...

SPORTS

Battle on in Division I

Mr. Bones may just be too far in front to be caught in Division II. West Coast Air has had an excellent season so far and seems unbeatable in the Premier Division. The battle is in Division I between Ross Built and Mike Norman Realty. Both teams have abundant offensive talent, the goals coming well and often from Jake and Andrew Ross for Ross Built and Mike Norman's Mikey Elsworth among others. Looking rock solid in defense and both teams with excellent goal keepers, these two teams will keep us on the edge of our seats. More...